Customer Reviews

Mr. Monk is Miserable

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Following on immediately from where the previous `Monk' novel (Mr. Monk Goes to Germany (Mr. Monk)) left off, we join ace detective Adrian Monk and his assistant (and chronicler of their escapades), Natalie Teeger on another corpse-laden yarn. Natalie has insisted that following their hair-raising experiences in Germany, a short vacation in Paris is called for. But, as all `Monk' fans know, wherever the obsessive compulsive detective goes, murder is sure to follow.

The title of this novel is a little misleading; Monk is not much more miserable here than he is in his usual San Franciscan habitat. In fact, at times, he is quite happy as he fits his detective work in between bouts of cleaning the Parisian streets thanks to a sanitation worker "generously" presenting him with the keys to a motorized sidewalk sweeper.

In an unusual development for this series, there are some light political overtones implied when Monk comes into contact with a group of people calling themselves Freegans: people who shun the consumer-driven lifestyle, preferring instead to live a kind of hand-to-mouth existence on scavenged food or second hand goods. Monk is, naturally, appalled at such debased thinking.

As with the `Germany' novel, the police chief in Paris bears some resemblance to Stottlemeyer, and he has his own bungling version of Disher in tow. Two books in a row? This is a joke that's wearing a little thin, I thought. But then there's a great punchline courtesy of The Randy Disher Experience . . .

I suppose it would be a little too predictable to have called this novel `Mr. Monk Goes to France' given the title that precedes this one. Of the seven `Monk' novels so far published, three of them take him out of his usual stomping ground (the other being Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii (Mr. Monk)) and, in my view, this is too many trips in too short a time. The novels set nearer to home-base work the best. Having said that, this novel is still well worth a read if you're a fan of the television show or the previous novels. If you haven't yet read any of the novels, I'd recommend reading them in order because events from each novel are frequently referred to in subsequent stories. Additionally, many of the television episodes are mentioned. More importantly, all the novels are fun reads with some neat comedy moments to complement the clever clue solving.

Natalie is ready for a vacation. Since she and Monk are already in Germany, she blackmails Monk into paying for them to visit Paris. She is looking for a few days of relaxation, which means she wants no murder investigation.

When they arrive, Monk surprises her by asking to tour the sewer system. Later that day, she insists they head to the catacombs. That was her mistake. See, in the middle of a pile of bones, Monk spots a skull that is only a few months old. Worse yet, the person was murdered. Despite Natalie's insistence that they are on vacation, Monk begins to work on the case. Who was the victim? Why was he buried in the catacombs? And will Natalie ever get a real vacation?

This book picks up moments after the last novel in the series ended. That means two things. One, it helps to have read that book first. Secondly, for those keeping track of TV chronology, this book is set before the end of the sixth season.

With that warning out of the way, we've got another fun case for Monk to solve. The mystery started slowly, with parts of the first half seeming a bit like a travel guide. But once Monk finds the skull, things begin to pick up. Since I hadn't read the jacket flap, there were several nice twists to the story I hadn't expected. The characters from the series are spot on as always, and the new characters are equally real and charming. Natalie is an interesting case here. I was at once frustrated and sympathetic to her at the same time.

And I can't leave out the humor. This book had me rolling multiple times as I read it. There are some great bits in the first quarter. A sub plot introduced in the second half was wonderful. Fans of the TV series will especially love the tie in there.

These series of novels continue to be a great companion to the TV series. If you haven't read one, pick up one today. You'll thank me later.

While not a big fan of books that go on about French places I have never been, the Monk books are more about characters. Let's face it, no better character than Monk. Well, Micheal Wesson of Burn Notice and Gus of Psych are up there. The book is true to the characters and even in France, the captain and randy Disher make an appearance. I am just a little annoyed that the written has clones copies of Stottlemyer and Disher in every police department in the world. Wouldn't it make sense to introduce different characters to see how Monk interacts? All in all a good read.

So one afternoon I found myself choosing between Mr. Monk is Miserable and Slumdog Millionaire. I was already 4 or 5 chapters into Slumdog when I noticed my copy of Monk as I was running out the door to my daughter's softball game. The dilemma that gave me pause was whether a paperback (Slumdog) or hardcover (Monk) would survive the excitement of a girls' softball game.

Thus it was that I found myself stifling laughs during a softball game rather than jumping out of my chair, fist pumping to encourage my daughter's team.

Yes, I started this series out of order. I'm a smart girl; I can handle it. I often do that with series. I've found that books later in a series have a maturity that contribute to my enjoyment. If I like the book I go back and start at the beginning of the series.

I am now working my way through Mr. Goldberg's Monks in order.

I should also point out I've never seen one episode of Monk. I've seen the commercials on USA and it looks interesting but I don't have time to devote to another tv show but I can always use another good book.

Check out other reviews that spoil details if you need that. My purpose here is to reassure someone who's never seen the series that they will enjoy this book and the others in the series.

As I began Mr. Monk is Miserable I was caught off guard. I wasn't expecting the story to be told from the POV of Monk's assistant, Natalie. But I adjusted. It was infinitely amusing. (Monk's shock that they have to share a room!) I laughed often. (The hazmat suit!) I also came to appreciate the insight into her character and thoughts separate from her position as Monk's employee.

This book stands on its own. I've read many tv tie-in books and I found this one didn't overly rely on the series to make it fun. I'm sure show fans may glean more from the book but it captures a unique character that's funny, never boring and provides descriptions of locations and culture that make it a good read. I could like this book without relying on having the show's actors in my head.

I was a huge fan of the tv show and, of course, have seen every episode at least twice. I also have been through surgery recently and needed something super light to read. It didn't hurt that I really miss Monk on my tv set every week. So the question is, is this as good as the tv show?

I don't anything could be as good as Tony Shaloub playing Monk on the tv show. So these books start out with a huge handicap for those readers who are already Monk addicts. That being said, I think the author does as good a job as anyone could expect of bringing a three dimensional visual character to life on the printed page and with the same level of humor intact. I find the books enjoyable and they have helped keep my mind off my surgery woes. I've read about six of these now and have enjoyed them all equally.

This book is set primarily in Paris and his assistant his Natalie Teeger. The account is written by her (as Watson to his Holmes as it were). Monk is in Europe because he followed his psychiatrist over there when his Psychiatrist left San Francisco for a conference. The story with the psychiatrist is told in the prior book of Monk going to Germany.

Monk being in Paris is pretty funny. Dead bodies follow him, of course, wherever he goes. Even the plane flight from Germany to Paris involves an in flight murder which he solves. Then when he gets to Paris he takes a tour of the Parisian sewers, which is a catacomb like structure with a fresh corpse in it. This murder will link together with Monk's meal in a restaurant which serves its patrons completely in the dark so as to enhance their taste buds. Someone is murdered right at Monk's table. The funniest bit, however, is when Monk comes across a French street cleaning machine and in his spare time takes up cleaning the streets of Paris. He is in heaven with this machine!

All in all, if you need light comic reading, this book and the other Monk books, deliver.

When last we left Adrian Monk, San Francisco's only OCD detective, in "Mr. Monk Goes to Germany," he had just finished solving a murder and had been blackmailed by his assistant, Natalie Teeger, into visiting Paris for a vacation. Not surprisingly, this has left him as happy as a Republican in Washington.

Also not surprisingly, Natalie's attempt at a vacation are thwarted by murders. A man drops dead on the flight from Germany to Paris. Then, while touring the underground bone yard in the City of Lights, Monk turns up a skull that wasn't meant to be part of the exhibit.

The story gets stranger. The remains are identified as a San Francisco resident who fled ten years before after his Ponzi scheme fell apart. In Paris, he fell in with "Freegans" -- people who live off the detritus of society -- as a way of evading identification. Then, when the San Francisco connection brings over Monk's co-workers, Captain Stottlemeyer his sidekick, Lt. Randy Disher, we learn that Disher's song, "I Don't Need A Badge," has turned him into the Jerry Lewis of the underground music scene.

Lee Goldberg is a pro at writing TV shows, and his Monk books reflect that sensibility. Playing within the format, yet keeping it fresh and inventive, is a challenge. Goldberg thinks two steps ahead of the reader's expectations. He sets the story in Paris, but instead of Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, we're treated to visits to the sewers, the aforementioned catacombs, a restaurant that serves food in the dark, and a climax that's inspired by "Phantom of the Opera."

By narrating the stories from Natalie's viewpoint, we also get some insight into what it's like to play the Watson to an irascible, pain-in-the-tucus genius. Whether accompanying Monk -- in full hazmat suit -- on a tour of the sewers, or marveling at his deductions from a meal served in total darkness, it's no wonder that Natalie would need a vacation after her vacation.

Mr. Monk is Miserable, the seventh book in Lee Goldberg's series of TV tie-ins, picks up immediately where book six, Mr. Monk Goes to Germany, left off. After solving a number of homicides in Germany's Lohr Valley, Monk and his assistant Natalie head to Paris for a vacation--a word which has vastly different connotations for Monk than for Natalie and the rest of humanity. Fortunately for Monk, Paris--despite its disconcerting otherness--has a few things to recommend it: a restaurant that serves Sierra Springs bottled water and perfectly square croque monsieurs, an underground museum that showcases the history of the groundbreaking Parisian sewer system, and an army of mini sanitation vehicles that sweep, vacuum, and wash the city's sidewalks. Paris also has its share of murders, one of which would have gone undetected indefinitely were it not for Monk's preternaturally acute attention to detail. Happily, Monk is able to break up the monotony of sight-seeing by assisting the local police in their investigations, and since one of the crimes has a San Francisco connection, Monk and Natalie are eventually joined in Paris by Captain Stottlemeyer and Lieutenant Disher. As usual with this series, Mr. Monk is Miserable offers readers a winning combination, a good mystery wrapped in humorous dialogue and occasional bits of pathos. I am impressed by how consistently enjoyable the Monk books are and lament only that I'm catching up to the author: as of January 2010, there are only two more books remaining in the series that I have yet to read, Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop and Mr. Monk in Trouble, both published in 2009. I'll have to pace myself unless Mr. Goldberg and his publisher agree to ramp up production.

-- Debra Hamel

By far the most unique of the Monk books. Its plot is true to the spirit of the TV series, while being a story that could only be told as a novel. With twists and turns through (and under) Paris it brings a new depth to Monk

Okay, Mr. Goldberg. There's one gag you've used in one episode and two books now. I'm not sure if it's third time's the charm or three strikes and you're out. But...enough, okay?

That out of the way, this next outing in the Monk novel series immediately follows MR. MONK GOES TO GERMANY. Natalie has blackmailed Monk into going to Paris for a few days, hoping to get a little bit of vacation out of her enforced trip to Europe, and to hopefully relive the happy memories of a past trip with her late husband. No chance: not only do the memories rattle Natalie, but Monk inexplicably wants to go--in a Hazmat suit, of course!--on a tour of the famous Paris sewers, which he considers the most remarkable thing about the city! Then Monk discovers a skull in the catacombs that is from a recently-deceased body, with signs of foul play about it. Yes, it's another mystery for Monk and his reluctant assistant, in which they meet street cleaners, the Paris constabulary, a group that eschews "the rat race," wondrous sanitizing streetside toilets, and, even more amazingly, food Monk will actually eat!

There's an offbeat tour of Paris along with the usual mystery elements, much fun for the Monk fan. Enjoy the journey, and don't forget your wipes!

Monk's trip to Germany was good, so I was pleasantly surprised to find his trip to Paris even better. This is my favorite book of the series...thus far!